A SURVEY has revealed that about 71 percent of men against only 29 percent of women own cattle in Kalomo’s Siachitema area of Southern Province.

According to Agri Pro Focus’s latest May newsletter, country network coordinator Claire van der Kleij said the focus was a network for agricultural professionals initiated by finance agencies and knowledge institutes with the aim of promoting farmer entrepreneurship.

Ms Van der Kleirs said with its second Agri-Business Finance Fair to be held in Eastern Province, a number of farmers were expected to attend so that they learnt more on how to improve the agriculture sector by supporting the developments in various activities within the sector.

She said in preparation for the match-making event between farmers and banks at the fair, the network has put out a call for business plans that would be reviewed by a committee including Bankers Association of Zambia, the Association of Micro-Finance in Zambia and Agri-Business Incubation Trust.

The newsletter indicated that farmers in Kalomo were trained last month on the different types of animal diseases and the basic clinical signs associated to these diseases.

The farmers saw the need for an increase in women in owning livestock, the need for women’s active involvement in drug procurement, administration and common decision-making in accrued farm resources.

She said during the gathering of farmers in Kalomo district, only a few women had knowledge on animal diseases compared to men.

The major concern raised by farmers was the need for land reforms enable women own land to protect them against intimidation, duress, undue influence and pressure within a cultural structure that supposedly affects their perception on the importance of land ownership and undertaking livestock rearing.

Agri-Pro Focus Zambia is hosted by SNV Netherlands development organisation in Zambia to assist members in building relationships and finding a common ground with regards to farmer entrepreneurship and food security.